300 THE LAST GENRO

people on the Pacific Coast and about our increasing influence on the
Asiatic Continent."

"That immigration problem is a very difficult one. My Foreign
Minister has spent a great deal of time on it, but the Washington
Government seems unable to cope with the local agitations in Cali-
fornia and Washington." Saionji showed concern. "What would you
do with that immigration problem, if you were the Premier or the
Foreign Minister?"

"Well, we could lodge a stronger protest if it gets worse, but—but
I think we've just got to forget our people there. How many are
there, one hundred or one hundred and twenty thousand in America?"

"Huh!" Saionji stared at his senior. "That's most unbecoming of
you. On what grounds do you make such a bold declaration?"

Ito, stroking his beard down to his throat, said: "Well, those
big business people who deal with American merchants, particularly
in raw silk, our most important export commodity, don't want us to
displease our best customers under any circumstances, you see.—Let's
have this hot one." He served sake to his friend and was eager to
change the subject.

"Huh, after a few cups of this I've got to be leaving. It was nice to
see you once more at your home."

"Don't hurry, you are my neighbor."

"Huh, I'm no longer your neighbor—"

"What? What did you do with your house?"

"I sold it soon after I had you and Genro Inouye for dinner follow-
ing Shinko's wedding."

"You sold it Why?"

"Huh, with you away in Korea, Oiso meant little to me, and
that fanner next to my house became disagreeable. He began to use
some fertilizer with horrible odors in the adjoining vegetable gardens.
I could not stand it any more."

"Probably he wanted you to buy it at a high price," Ito snickered.

"He made a mistake, Genro."

"Why didn't you do something?"

"No, never thought of it~I packed up and left"

"Who bought your estate?"

"Huh, the buyer was one of the directors of the Mitsui Banking
House, Ikeda Seihin."

"Fine, you must have charged him plenty, eh?"

"I did not."